William j



(No Model.)

W.- J.. WOODS.

WHIFFLBTREE HOOK.

Patented July 26, 1887.

Ill/VE/I/TOR WITNESSES:

9- ATTORNEYS the part with which the cock engages.

in use on awhiffletree.

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFIC WILLIAM J. woon's, or NEW rock, n. Y.

WHlFFLETREE-HOO'K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,126, dated July 26, 1887. Application filed April 26, 1887. Serial No. 236,149. (No model.)

To. all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. Woons, of

the city, county, and State ofNe'w York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Devices for Attaching Traces to Whiffietrees, &c., of which I declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,fori ning part of this specification. v

This invention is in the nature of an improvement in devices for attaching traces to whifietrees and holdback-straps to thills, &c.; and theinvention consists in a device for attaching traces to whiffletrees, 850., constructed in the manner and for the purpose herein particularly described and claimed.

' In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 shows my device as it appears when Fig. 2 is a view of the same partly in section. Fig. 3 is an end View of the cock. Fig. 4 is an under side view of Fi s. 5 and 6 are side and plan views of the device when used for a holdback.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

This invention has forits object the improvement in the fastening for whiffletrees and hold backs heretofore patented by me on the 6th day of July, 1880.

Referring-t0 the accompanying sheet of drawings A represents a whiflietree, which may be attached in the usual manner to the cross-bar of the thills, or to the evener when a pole is used. To the ends of the whiffletrees are fixed the cocks B. The cocks B, which have the angular shape shown in Fig. 3, approximating a wedge shape, are curved, as at c, and are beveled, as at b. The base of the cocks is also beveled, as at 0. This practically completes the fixture on the whifiletree. Ashackle, C, castor otherwise formed, terminates in a collar, D. The upper and lower surfaces of this collar are countersunk, as at f, so that these surfaces produce a thin edge, as at 9. Through the periphery of the collar D is cut aslot, E, angular in shape, to correspond to the angular shape of the cocks B, before named. Theinner part of the slot is curved, as at h. A disk, F, with a projecting seat, k, centrally formed therein, is

next made, the disk being practically of the same diameter as is the collar D. A socket,

G, of any desired form, preferably of a form approaching the conical, as shown in Figs. 1

and 2, and with-ahollowinterior, is next made. This socket has made in its sides two slots, Z. A coiled spring, H, of suitable diameter and length to be received within the socket G, being next made, the separate parts of my device will be completed, and the separate parts are united by first inserting the spring H vertically within the socket'G, placing within the socket the disk F, the seat thereof being received within the upper coil of the spring.

The collar D of the shackle O is now placed upon the disk, the arms on of theshackle being received within the slots Z of the socket G, and the edge of that socket is turned over uponthe surface of the collar D, forming thereby a retaining-flange, a, which keeps the collar of the shackle fixed to the socket, and by this fixing all the several parts hereinbefore enumerated are held in place, making complete the de-' vice K.

The operation of this trace-fastening device as described is as follows: The cock B being fixed to the end of the whiflietree, as stated.

the device K is presented to it, with the slot E therein corresponding to the cock B; but this slotE is presented to the cock, so that the thicker .end of the wedge-shaped part of the cock is permitted to enter and pass under the slot E, and when thisis done the cock B will be readily received within the slot E, and can be turned then at right angles to the slot E,-or at any angle beneath the collar D and between that collar and the'disk F. The necessity for presenting the slot in the deviceK at an angle to the cock arises from the fact that the width of the cock at its widest part is somewhat greater than the length of the slot E; hence it is apparent that the cock cannot readily pass through that slot, and so accidentally detach the device K from the cock, since when in use the strain would not be such as to present the slot at such an angle and cause such accidental detachment. Now, when the cock is passed into the slot E, the curvedsurface a is received to some extent within the seat 70 of the disk F, which acts, in connection with the spring H, as an elastic bearing for the end of the cock, and when-the cock is so received the beveled sides b of the cock will bear against the under countersunk surface of the collar, and the beveled base of the cock will bear against the opposite countersinlaf, of the collar, and the edge 9 of the collar, formed by these two countersinks, will be received in the neck 0 of the cock. The result of this fittingis that the cock is received within the device K in such a manner that it meets a smooth bearing-surfiice at all points, and the device Kis enabled to turn freely and noisclcssly on the cock when my device is in use.

Of course, it is apparentfrom an inspection of the drawings, and without-special mention, that the trace L is passed through the shackle C.

To detach the traces from the whiflletrec, it is simply necessary to turn the device Karouud until the slot E in the collar shall be coincident with the cock B, when by the action of the coiled spring the device K is tilted slightly backward and at once detached from the cock. As is obvious, the mechanism above described is equally applicable for the attachment of a holdback, as shown in Figs. and 6.

The purpose of the wedge shape of the cock and the angular shape of the slot in the collar is to prevent the accidental withdrawing of one from the other.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

thickness in one direction is greater than the length of the slot E, and which has beveled bearing-surfaces to receive the collar D, as and for the purpose described. 7

2. In a trace and holdback fastening device, a shackle, C, teri'ninating at one end in a slotted collar, D, in combination with a socket, G,

within which said collar is secured, and in whose side are slots Z, through which pass the arms at of the shackle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a fastening device for traces and holdbacks, a cock of wedge-shaped form, and with a curved end, a, and beveled sides I), and a beveled base, 0, combined with an elastic disk, F, a socket, G, a shackle, C, and a slotted and countersunk collar, D, as and for the purpose deseri bed.

WILLIAM J. woons.

Witnesses:

FRED HEMMING, D. A. CARPENTER. 

